A photographer shooting wildlife in Indonesia recently left his camera unattended. He returned to find that a crested black macaque had taken a few interesting shots of himself. The photographer released the photos and one of them went viral. When the owner of the camera asked Wikipedia Commons to remove the image from its site,Continue reading “Monkey’s Selfie Creates Copyright Dispute”
Author Archives: hjsumner
Alice, Bilski, and the Growing Resistance in Securing Computer Related Patents
In June, the Supreme Court heard the case Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International. In this case CLS challenged a number of Alice’s patents claiming that the patents protected ineligible subject matter. The patents in question performed escrow calculations using a computer. CLS contended that the use of the computer was not sufficient to supportContinue reading “Alice, Bilski, and the Growing Resistance in Securing Computer Related Patents”
Notorious Toronto Mayor in Trouble for Unauthorized use of Trademark
Rob Ford, the Toronto mayor of recent notoriety, is employing Ford’ famous oval shaped logo on t-shirts that support his cause. The Ford Motor Company claims that Mr. Ford did not seek permission before using their oval logo on “Ford Nation” shirts. In an effort to distance themselves from the recent bad press, the automakerContinue reading “Notorious Toronto Mayor in Trouble for Unauthorized use of Trademark”
Artist Uses Snow As Canvas
Artist Simon Beck is well known for his artworks in the snow. Using snowshoes, he creates stunning geometric masterpieces often the size of several football fields. He plans to compile a book of images showcasing his works. Click here for full article.
Products Merely Having the “Look and Feel” of a Trademarked Brand Can Still Be a Counterfeit in the Eyes of the Law
Designers have been increasingly proactive in protecting their marks and brands by filing trademark infringement suits against those making “knock-off” products. Louis Vitton recently celebrated the upholding of a $335,000 judgment against Joseph Mosseri for online sales of counterfeit Louis Vuitton products. But what if a competitor copies only the “look and feel” of anContinue reading “Products Merely Having the “Look and Feel” of a Trademarked Brand Can Still Be a Counterfeit in the Eyes of the Law”
Trade Secret Protections May Be Lost If You Fail to Take the Proper Precautions
It is imperative to have consistent nondisclosure agreements in place whenever divulging confidential information to a third party. Divulging sensitive information without having the proper contractual protections in place may limit your legal remedies. In the recent case of Gal-Or vs. US, an Israeli scientist’s inconsistencies in requiring nondisclosures and his failure to mark sensitiveContinue reading “Trade Secret Protections May Be Lost If You Fail to Take the Proper Precautions”
Swedish Inventors Develop Inflatable Bike Helmet
A pair of Swedish designers have recently developed an inflatable helmet. The helmet is worn around the neck like a travel pillow allowing bikers to benefit from unimpeded sight and sound. The device senses the biker’s movement and an inflatable helmet deploys when necessary, covering the head and neck of the rider with a fullyContinue reading “Swedish Inventors Develop Inflatable Bike Helmet”
U.S. Copyright Office Proposes Creation of Small Claims Tribunal
The U.S. Copyright Office has proposed the creation of a 3 person tribunal to adjudicate smaller value copyright claims. Use of this tribunal would be voluntary and in lieu of federal court proceedings. The tribunal could hear cases having damages less than $30,000. Click here for full article.
Mobil App Developers Protect your IP Rights!
If you have developed a mobile application you should consider protecting your intellectual property rights by filing trademark and patent applications where applicable. You should also consider federal copyright registration as a means of protecting the code and layout of your application. Click here for full article.
New Feud Over Hatfield McCoy Trademark
Everyone has heard of the legendary grudge between the Hatfield and McCoy families during the mid to late 1800’s. While the family feud has quieted down in the last century, a new dispute is emerging over who has the right to use the trademark HATFIELD & MCCOY in competing moonshine ventures. Click here forContinue reading “New Feud Over Hatfield McCoy Trademark”